Apr 03, Colombo: Elections Commissioner of Sri Lanka Mahinda Deshapriya said that he would propose an expenditure ceiling for candidates at future elections.

Deshapriya told the media that some countries in the region have imposed laws and regulations to control the expenditure of candidates during elections.

Pointing to the laws in Thailand and India where he says expenditure on electioneering has been controlled, the Commissioner explained that implementing such an expenditure ceiling on election campaigns in Sri Lanka would also help good governance.

Sri Lankan candidates and their supporters spent large sums of money on posters, banners, pamphlets, public meetings and rallies.

According to Deshapriya, under the current system in Sri Lanka, sometimes qualified yet financially backward candidates are at a disadvantage when contesting elections.